Lou Taylor lives in Sydney with her mum Fiona and dad Richard. Lou was adopted as a toddler and her parents are loving and supportive. Lou receives a letter from a solicitor, she’s inherited her birth mothers estate and it’s in a small country town called Wagtail Ridge. Fiona encourages Lou to visit Wagtail Ridge, she thinks it will answer her questions and give her closure.

Lou discovers she’s inherited a quaint cottage, a small amount of money and a mobile library full of books. Lou’s birth mother Luca lived in Wagtail Ridge her whole life, everyone in town knew her, she was well liked and some people remember Lou as a baby. Lou doesn’t know how to deal with the emotions and feelings this creates, and it’s a very unusual situation to be in. Lou planned to sell the cottage, return to Sydney and get a job.

Lou meets Jake Barnes, he's been taking care of Luca’s cottage since she passed away and he shows her the library truck kept in an old shed in the backyard. Luca left her a series of letters, they explain why she made the choices she did, to find them, Lou has to travel the mobile libraries route and Jake offers to drive the truck for her. Lou and Jake set off for their first library run, a tiny town and Lou quickly discovers how much the residents look forward to the bus arriving, everyone loved Luca and the service she provided.

At each town Lou is given a book, inside is a letter from her Luca and she tells her daughter about her life and why she put her up for adoption. Lou didn’t know what to expect when she first started the journey into finding her birth mother, what she would uncover and how it would make her feel. At times Lou is really angry and frustrated, and she starts to understand her mother did love her and she had to make a very difficult decision. Lou develops feelings for Jake, she starts to enjoy living in Wattle Ridge, does she want to move back to Sydney and she hasn’t found out the identity of her birth-father?

I received a digital copy of The Library at Wagtail Ridge from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review. Janet Grover has written a though provoking and sensitive narrative about adoption, and how there's always two sides to the story. I highly recommend this book, it made me feel really emotional and the characters are wonderful, please write a sequel and five stars from me.

A story of family and love this book is definitely enticing and made more so by the fact it's about books. The mobile library is a lovely touch and even a dream of my own as everyone is always telling me that I could start my own library. I loved the community and the sense that everyone knows and looks out for each other. Janet Gover is a fantastic Australian author.

This is such a beautiful story, wonderful characters, fabulous setting and filled with emotion, I did shed a few tears reading this one as I got to know Lou, Jake and the lovely people from Wagtail Ridge and the surrounding communities. What can I say who doesn’t love a library?

Lou Taylor has grown up very happy in the suburbs of Sydney with her adoptive parents, she has just finished her degree and has been working at the university till she finds that special job, arriving home one day there is a letter from the solicitor who handled her adoption all those years ago and Lou is not sure whether she wants to open it or not.

Lou visits the solicitor and finds out that she has been left a small cottage in the small town of Wagtail Ridge from her birth mother, the woman who never wanted to be in her life, she packs up and goes to see the cottage, what she finds is not only the cottage but a mobile library and a handwritten letter from Luca, her mother, this starts a journey to find out all about her mother.

She meets Jake, who has been caring for the house since Luca’s death and some of the lovely townsfolk who are all pressing for her to keep the mobile library going and with a task to find more letters Jake agrees to drive the truck and show Lou around and the more Lou learns that harder it is for her to turn her back on Wagtail Ridge and perhaps Jake as well.

So many emotions flow from the pages in this truly beautiful story, come along and meet the wonderful characters and Ollie the Labrador who plays a big part in the story, will Lou sell up and move back to the city or will she make her home in Wagtail Ridge and keep the mobile library going?

I do highly recommend this one, Janet Gover never disappoints.

My thanks to the publisher, Harlequin AU and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

The Library at Wagtail Ridge by Aussie author Janet Gover was such a delightful book to read. Apart from being well written, this book had likeable characters, a wonderful setting and a storyline that held my interest to the last page. And I must make mention to the beautiful cover. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for my ARC to read and review. Highly recommended.

A really enjoyable story about Lou who has just graduated from University when she finds out her birth mother has passed away and left her a house and a legacy in Wagtail Ridge. Reluctantly, Lou takes on the mission arranged by her birth mother to get the mobile library out and about once more and learns more about her in the process, thanks to the help of Jake. A great read.

I can’t believe this is the first novel of Janet Gover’s I have read… what have I been doing, I will definitely be rectifying that!

The Library at Wagtail Ridge is a story that will capture your heart just like it did mine, it was quite an emotional read for me but by the end, when I finished that last page, I held this book to my chest, hugged it and let out a sign of pure joy.

This book has it all;
A heartwarming story ✅
Rural Romance ✅
Wonderful small town setting ✅
Strong community vibes ✅

This is a must read for lovers of rural romance authors like Rachael Johns & Karly Lane.

Thank you so much to the Publisher and author for this gifted copy.

The Library at Wagtail Ridge is a heartwarming story of Lou as she seeks to discover more about her birth mother and ultimately, herself. She travels to Wagtail Ridge where she has been bequeathed a cottage and mobile library. Throughout her journey, Lou is often angry and frustrated until, through a series of letters, she begins to understand the actions her birth mother made. Along the way Lou develops relationships (romantic and otherwise) with the local community who wish to welcome and embrace her.

‘This was about who she was - and she really didn’t know the answer to that any more.’

All up this is a book with a number of themes, primarily one concerning the story of adoption. Through the anger Lou feels at the disruption to her life, she will learn to get all the facts about situations before jumping to any conclusions. The two main features in this read for me were twofold. Firstly, the mobile library. It was wonderful of Janet to shine the spotlight on these very remote communities and just how special and crucial such visits were.

‘Library day was obviously something of a social occasion for the people who didn’t get many chances to just chat … The library was more than just a place to find a book.’

Secondly, the nod given - through the various letters Lou received from her birth mother - of wonderful Australian classics - The Shiralee, Seven Little Australians, Picnic at Hanging Rock, My Brilliant Career - just to name a few. I love these books and they are a part of Australian literary culture.

‘Knowing I could spend my life in that room surrounded by literally thousands of books was a gift … Then I was given the mobile library to run. What a perfect combination: books and the open road.’

The Library at Wagtail Ridge is an easy read with a focus on the importance of community and finding a home where you belong. In essence it is a dedication to these small rural towns and the binding love of all things literary.









This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

The Library at Wagtail Ridge is a story dear to my heart. The last years of my working life were spent in small and even smaller towns in southern NSW, several of them very remote, and I know all too well just how special the mobile library visits were to those communities. I loved that Luca’s mobile library was central to this story and that through it Lou Taylor got to know her birth mother. That she was able to find love as well was a bonus. This story is beautifully crafted, as you would expect with a Janet Gover book. It was easy to love Lou, admire and love Jake, and appreciate Luca’s kindness and generosity to the towns she visited. With central themes including love, betrayal, trust and friendship, this book has been a delight to read.

Set in Australia in Sydney and Hunter Valley in the present time.
This is about identity, books, reading and a mobile library. Lou has her life planned and intends to travel in Australia hoping to spend time in the bush. Her life becomes complicated when she inherits a cottage and a mobile library in a small town in the Upper Hunter Valley.
Lou was adopted when she was a young child and has no memories of her birth mother. Lou’s birth mother Luca leaves her a cottage and the mobile library.
I loved reading about Lou and her indecisions over keeping her dreams of travel or moving to Wagtail Ridge to live in the cottage.

Lou Taylor has always known that she was adopted but it was never important as her parents were loving and supportive.
She has just received news of an inheritance of a cottage from her birth mother at Wagtail Ridge and she travels there with the idea to sell the cottage but upon arrival finds a littlemore is expected of her.
I enjoyed this book, it was a very easy read but it seems I’m in the minority as I didn’t love it. In fact at times I feel Lou was totally manipulated by her birth mother Luca. It was as if Lou could only find out details of Luca’s life on Luca’s terms, which were in the form of letters she had written to Lou via the mobile library patrons and friends.
Maybe this book was a little ‘too sweet’ for me, many have loved it and I have read some previous books by the author which I have really enjoyed. This one just didn’t click enough.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read

When Lou Taylor arrived home one afternoon to see her parents sitting at the kitchen table, concern on their faces, she immediately felt something was wrong. The letter waiting for her was from a solicitor, and it was to tell her she'd inherited property from her birth mother, a woman Lou didn't remember, and didn't really want to know about. Lou had always known she was adopted, but the love she held for her parents was such that she didn't feel the need to find her birth parents. Now though, it seemed her birth mother had died, leaving a mystery for Lou - but was it one she was ready to solve?

With the encouragement and support of her parents back in Sydney, Lou headed to the small town of Wagtail Ridge in the Hunter Valley and the cottage she'd inherited. What she discovered was a town of friendly folk who all knew and loved Luca Bonnet, Lou's mother, and who wanted to talk to Lou about her. But Lou wasn't ready, and confusion saw her hiding away, unsure whether to leave it all in the hands of the local real estate, or work through what she had to do. The letter she discovered was the beginning of a trail which would lead her to answers - but would they help? Jake Barnes, a neighbour and the person who'd been looking after the cottage grounds, and his retriever Ollie, were there if she needed them, as was Luca's best friend Deb. But were they enough? And what could she possibly do with the mobile library in the shed?

The Library at Wagtail Ridge is another wonderfully written novel by Aussie author Janet Gover, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Wagtail Ridge is a small fictional country town just like many throughout Australia, filled with caring, friendly people (along with the occasional busybody!) who took Lou under their wing, giving her space when she needed it, and wrapping her in their embrace when she needed that. I'm really loving Ms Gover's work, and look forward to her next. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is a good read that takes you on a journey through the life of Lou Taylor, adopted at a very young age and not remembering her birth mother, she lived a happy and loving life with her adoptive family. Then her world is turned upside down with the news of an inheritance from her birth mum and so the story begins.

This is a wonderful story that makes you think, makes you emotional and makes you laugh and cry. The story is so real and really does make you feel as if you shouldn't jump to conclusions and should always hear both sides of a story as there are always two sides.

It is well written, the characters are people you feel could be your friends and family, the library aspect is great and there was one or two twists. It is definitely a book worth reading, it is very easy to read and makes you think of how communities become family and how we miss out on that so much in this day and age.

A wonderful, entertaining and heartfelt read. I highly recommend it.

The Library at Wagrail Ridge is a beautiful rural romance by Janet Gover. Lou Taylor was looking forward to starting her new adventure after finishing her degree. However, Lou did not expect to end up in a small rural community due to her biological mother's will. On arrival at Wagtail Ridge, Lou meets Jake Barnes and discovers she has inherited a mobile library and a mystery. The readers of The Library at Wagrail Ridge will continue to follow Lou Taylor and Jake Barnes to find out what happens.

I put this book on my TR shelf due to the title of the book. Wow, this is the first book I have read by Janet Gover and not sure how I missed reading other books by this author. I had no problem engaging with this book's characters or story from the start, and I also had difficulties putting the book down. I love Janet Gover's portrayal of the characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book. The Library at Wagrail Ridge is well-written and researched by Janet Gover. I like Janet Gover's description of The Library At Wagrail Ridge settings, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.

The readers of The Library at Wagrail Ridge will learn about another consequence of miss diagnosis of medical conditions for the families and the suffering. Also, The Library at Wagrail Ridge readers will understand the importance of volunteers to help train guide dog puppies.

I recommend this book

Lou always knew she had been adopted and had no desire to explore her birth heritage. When her birth mother dies, leaving Lou an inheritance, it sets her on a journey of discovery, one which requires the help of local neighbour Jake.

An easy read about the importance of community and finding where you belong.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this in return for my honest review.

Growing up Sydney girl Lou Taylor knew she was adopted but never had the desire to learn more about her birth parents. That changes when she receives a solicitors letter after the passing of her birth mother. She journeys to Wagtail Ridge to accept her inheritance with the thought of selling up and heading straight back to the city. But after discovering a handwritten letter from her birth mother Luca she is set on a path of discovery which requires the help of local neighbour Jake.

The emotional journey in this book is a bitter-sweet one. I like the way the author shared the importance of mobile libraries in remote/rural areas. It also reminded me of my own visits to a mobile library in my small hometown. The story was easy to follow and enjoyable to read.

Thank you to NetGallery for the copy to read and review.